Help!!! What Has Happened???

[kptfj60]

To make a long story short. Drove into work this morning-everything fine
Had an employee take my 86fj60 to get lumber
Went to go to a meeting & truck won't start
I put the pedal to the floor to start
Runs very rough & won't really stay running
Made it home and have been checking it out
Changed plugs (very fouled)
Started right up beautifully
Took down the road for a test drive
Started running bad again
Tranny acting very loud & bucking
Seems to be result of engine
Black exhaust
Any Thoughts????

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Burning oil. Definately my first idea. What do the plugs look like? Extremely black?

What does the smoke smell like? Oil?

 

[FJ60Cam]

Is the choke linkage binding up/stuck? Had mine get stuck in the full choke position last week, but could still push the knob in. Wouldn't run (once the engine warmed up a bit) until I freed it up.

 

[kptfj60]

I have not smelled the exhaust. I'll try that. I'm really hoping it is not oil. I changed the plugs (they were extremely black & wet). However, after my test drive I checked them & they were again all black but this time dry. I'm thinking timing. I'm baffled because it has happened all of a sudden. The guy I sent to drive it is a real dufus and I'm trying to think if he could have done anything. He siad it wouldn't start so he just kept it cranking until it started. I asked him why he didn't use the choke and he just kind of gave me a befuddled look. Could his pumping of the gas/constant cranking do anything. Fouled the plugs? I however would think that this would clear up rather quickly. I'm getting a new cap & rotor & wires tomorrow and am going to try that. Also, the air filter has a pretty large amount of oil in it and I'm wondering if this is a sign of some pretty serious valve leakage? Just trying to cover all of the bases.

 

[brett76]

i second looking at your choke. make sure those butterflies are open when its warm or it will act just like that

 

[bandy rooster]

replace the fuel filter just incase.

 

[kptfj60]

By butterfly you mean the one at the very top of the carb right? Do you mean the lower ones? If so how is the best way to check these? Just peer down in? Also, the vehicle runs strong on acceleration. It's just when I'm off the gas that this happens. Is the only thing I can do is to check lube the linkages on the outside of the carb? Is there a vaccum line that could be causing the choke to stay on? Thanks for the replies!

 

[Tinker]

Check it out very carefully. One of my (now ex-) employees was doing "neutral drops" in my 60 with the 5.7 Vortec & 4L60E. Blew the spiders & side gears plus the tranny.

 

[kptfj60]

Can you please expand on this Tinker? I don't quite understand what you're talking about. My tranny has also been acting funny. It rattles really loudly when I'm out of the gas. I figured it was just due to the engine & tranny being so closely linked in the 4spd. (I'm not sure if I'm describing that right, you know being geared so low every action in the engine is seen & felt in the tranny)Thanks

 

[DBS311]

I think he means that his ex-employee would put the auto 4L60E into neutral, rev up the engine, and then slam it into drive.

 

[kptfj60]

Oh! I see. Was kind of getting excited about the possibility of openin' a good ol' can o' whoop a** tomorrow.

 

[PAFJ]

Black smoke means your using to much gas, I'm not to familiar with cruiser carbs, but I imagine there is something that regulates the amount of fuel getting into the engine, which could be your problem.

Good Luck-

 

[kptfj60]

I guess that could relate back to the potential of the choke being stuck?

 

[kptfj60]

Any more thoughts?

 

[soggy60]

Black Smoke = too much fuel
Blue Smoke = Oil
White Smoke = Water , or a new Pope

As others have said, check tou choke valve & linkage; valve is plate you see when you remove air filer housing.
There's 2 vacuum devices on 'firewall' side of carb ( connections face drivers fender); they open choke :
- as soon as engine starts opens a littel, that's the one connected to carb
- wide open when warmed up, that's the one connected to the 'plummers nightmare'

Also try running with air filter housing off; see if ya see gasoline overflowing into carb; that means 'float & valve' , inside of carb, needs attention.

Have fun with yer 60 !

 

[cruiser88]

check your pvc also but i m leaning more towards choke also

 

[kptfj60]

Ok Guys thanks for all the great input. Here are the things that I've done.

First-Let it sit for two days.(couldn't get time to work on)
New coil
New wires
New rotor
New cap
New air filter
New plugs

I started it back up and she is running pretty good. Some blue smoke to start but I suppose that was the oil dripping in from the two days of not running. (old cruiser syndrome) I let it run for about 5-10 minutes and eventually the blue smoke turned into black smoke again. The choke is fine. Now I'm convinced that it is simply getting too much gas as the black smoke has a slight smell of gas. Now- with that said how do I fix?? I'm not a carb expert but can find myself around pretty easily. Any suggestions? I'm thinking maybe that needle screw on the valve cover side of the carb could use a tightening? Thanks again for all the help!!

 

[BigGun J]

while being used by another, could it have been fuled with diesel?

Jim

 

[Ruffy]

I was just thinking the same thing??? has anyone else put any fuel in it??? it may be fouling plugs because of the wrong fuel.

 

[pvidrummer]

I think its the gasoline, try pupmping it out and replacing it with the one you usally use.